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C' S' WATSONA BNVELOPE OPENER.

Patented May 27, 1884.

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UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE@ CHARLES S. WATSON, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO JAMES R. BISSEX, OF SAME PLAGE.

ENvELoP'E-OPENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 299,442, dated May 27, 1884.

Application filed September 14, 1883. (No model.)

.To all whom it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES S. WATSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Envelope-Openers, of which the following is a specification.

The nature of my invention consists in the combination of a cutter or opener with the envelope-moistener patented to me on the 31st day of July, 1883, No. 282,247, being attached thereto in a permanent manner, )referably to one of its flat sides and level with its outer surface, so that the instrument lying with that side up on the table, with the point ofthe cutter under the envelopes Hap, separation is readily and quickly made by moving the instrument from end to end of the latter, as hereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawings, which make a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a plan or top view of the instrument composed of the moistener A and opener B, the latter having its point inserted under the ap a preparatory to the opening operation. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the combined instrument. Fig. 3 is a face view of the cutter or opener B. Fig. 4 is an edge view of the same. Fig. 5 isa crosssection at the line x :o of Fig. 3.

Like letters of reference in all the figures indicate the same parts. i

A represents my envelope-moistener, No. 282,247, above referred to; and B the cutter or opener for severing the flap a from the body of the envelope C. As the moistener is fully described in the above-mentioned patent, and, separate from the opener, forms no part of my application, a description thereof is omitted in this place.

In Fig. 2 of the drawings the cutter or opener B is represented as a projection of the dat sideb of the moistener A; but, as the moistener is made of tin or sheet-brass, a ne edge cannot be given to the cutter; and I therefore prefer making it of sheet-steel, separate from the side b, as shown in Figs. 8 and 4, and uniting it thereto by means of solder or otherwise. I prefer making the cutter or-opener of curved form in its cross-section, as shown in Fig. 5, for the purpose of obtaining the maximum strength of theamount of material. It may, however, be made flat, if desired; but in such case additional thickness will be required to give it the proper lateral strength.

The operation of the cutter or opener will be understood by Fig. 2 of the drawings, in which, as may be imagined, the envelope C is lying flat upon a table and the cutter is in-V serted at one corner of the envelope under the flap a. rIhen, by pushing the implement through to the opposite corner, the flap is severed from the body of the envelope with facility and dispatch.

It will readily appear that the combined instrument is as convenient for carrying in the pocket as the moistener without the opener, and that there is much economy in constructing the two instruments together, as shown in the drawings, as well as convenience in having but one instrument to use and take care of instead of two.

I claim as my invention- An envelope opener and closer, A, of hollowL wedge form, provided with the cutter B at one of its diverging sides, for severing the iiap a from the body C of an envelope, substantially as described.

CHAS. S. VATSON. 

